Signor of one half to seaton schroeder



(No ModelL) 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

. BRIGGS.

ADING ORDNANOE.

(No Model.)

. 4 SheetsSheep 2. W. H. DRIGG-S. BREEOH LOADING ORDNANOE.

Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

mf/zl /z far- I 7 Qua ffhfil aj ad,

//7 edged" A 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. H. BRIGGS.

- BREEOH LOADING ORDNANOB.

' Ratented Apr. 5, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

W. H. BRIGGS.

BREEOH LOADING ORDNANOE.

No. 360,798. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

UN TED STATE ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HALE names, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, As-

SIGNOR on ONE-HALF TO SEA-TON sonnonnnn, or SAME PLACE.

BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION orming part of Letters Patent No. 360,798, dated April- 5,1887.

Applicaiimifiled February 25, IFE'I, Serial No. 228,816. (No mode To allwhom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, Wi Lmir HALE Dumas, a citizen of the United States,residingat \Vash ington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain'new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and.

exact description of the invention, such as will Figure 1 representsalongitudinal section of the breech end of the gun, with the breechblockand the adjoining p-irts in side eleva' tion, the chamber being closed,as it would appear at the moment of firing. Fig. 2 shows the same partsin full and dotted lines, with the breecli-bloek movedintoposition foropening the chamber for the reception of the bartridge. Fig. 3 is a-rearelevation of the breech. end of the gun, the breech-block being inposition for closing the chamber. Fig. 4 isa similar view representingthe same parts, but with the breech-block in position for exposing thechamber. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the breech-block and the adjoiningparts, a portion of said block being broken away to show the firing-pinin its opening and the upper ends of the wings of the mainspring restingagainst the front and rear shoulders on saidpin. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection-on theline a: m, Fig. 1 Fig. 7 'is a detail plan view of thefiring-pin. Fig. 8 is a rear view ofa portion of the breech-block thevertically-movable slide, and the casing fitted over the same and over aportion of the central recess in the rear'face of said breech-block, thefiring-pin being shown in section. Fig. 9,showsa side elevation of saidcasing and screws for securing the same to the breech-block. Fig. 10 isa top plan view of the same, and Fig. 11 is a ward movement of the sameduring firing.

B is a stout steel shaft or axisiitted inopenings in the breech andextending out beyond the same on its left side, where it is providedwith 'an operating-handle, C, for a purpose which will be hereinafterstated. This axis passes loosely through an elongated opening,

a", in the lower portion of the'breech-block,

as shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow of-a down andup movement of saidblock one; line inclined about two degrees from the vertical.-

A pin or stud, a, projects from the side of the breech-block at or nearits center, and passesihto an irregularly-curved or cam -shaped groove,D, formed in the inner wall -or check of the breech. Thepeculiar' shapeof this groove is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2', in

which its walls are nearly vertical for a short distance from .its upperend, as shown atd. From this point said walls incline slightly to thegear from the vertical walls, as shown at d and then continue onincurved lines d to the bottom of said groove.

D is the cam. It is rigidly fixed to the axis cooking the same.

E represents the cartridge-extractor,which consists of twovertically-extending limbs, ec, loosely pivoted upon bolts 6 e, fixed inthe inner walls of the breech-chamber, at the sides of the front part ofthe breech-block and forward of the axis of the operating-lever, one ofsaid limbs being arranged in front of the cam D and the other in frontof the cam. D

- .on the rod or axis 13 at the opposite side of and at thehorizontallyopposite sides oi said opening, and communicating therewith,are also formed the grooves f 5 f The firing-pin F passes through saidopening, and is provided with the bottom projection, f, the-ring f andthe head f, projecting over the extension d onthe arm d of the cam. Saidfiring-pin is also provided with front and rear shoulders,

f andffl oneach side, as shown in Figs. 5, 6', and 7, which fit and areadapted to' slide in the groo'resf f and thus secure positive or directguidance of said pin. Against the front shoulders the front wing, g, ofthe mainspring "G presses when the firing-pin is retracted, the

- front one to operate against the front shoulders other wing, 9 of saidspring resting freely against the rear shoulders, f on said firingpin,or inelongated slots or against stops in the central recessed part ofthe rear face of the breech-block. The mainspring is formed of broadsteel plate, broader than the diameter of the firing-pin, and isbifurcated at the upper ends of its wings for permitting them to extendup on each side of the firing-pin, the

thereon and the rear" one to rest against its rear shoulders and againsta forwardly-ex tending projection, z, (promincntly'shown in Figs. 5 and9,) of the casing I, hereinafter described.

H is a short rock-shaft fitted in the rear part of the breech-block, andhaving one end projecting beyond the side thereof and the inner endextending to its center. Atits projecting end it is provided with ahorizontal arm, h, and at its inner end with the vertical arm h, whichis normally held from downward movement by a leaf-spring, h suitablysecured to the casing I, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8.Thisshortrock-shaft,attheinnerend,which projects to the center of thebreech-block and in rear of the vertical arm h, is provided withhook-shaped catches h If, which embrace the lateral extensions 7 h atthe lower end of a vertically-movable slide, 1, which is'incloscd by thecasing l, which is open atits ends and secured to the rear of thebreech-block. The upper end of this slide projects in front of theprojection f on the firingpin when the latter is drawn back.

J is a rock-shaft passing transversely through the right wall of thegun-breech, and having 'its'inuer end terminating in a recess in saidwall and in rear of the breech-block. At its inner end it is providedwith a rigidly-attached trip orfinger, j, which projects slightiy overthe arm h of the short roek-simftfl", andat its outer end it has arigidly-secured fingerpiece or trigger, j, projecting downward in frontof the hand-rest The operation of the parts thus described is 'asfollows: Fig. 1 represents the breech as closed, or as it would appearafter the discharge of the gun. To open the chamber and extract thecartridge-shell, the, handle 0 is turned, and by it the axis B and theattached cam D are also turned, the latterv being moved downwardly andrearwardl y. This movement is accomplished by the pin or stud a on thebreech-block projecting through the opening dot the cam andinto thecam-groove D in the inner wall ofth'e breech, said cam-groove, owing tothe described contour of its walls 12, (Z and d, first moving the studand block vertically downward the extent of its vertical walls d, thebands a a on the upper-surface of said bloclrbeing thus forced from thegrooves in the breech. NVith further movement of the handle 0 and cam Dthe pin or stud a is moved down the inclined walls d of the cam-groove,

and thence along the curved walls d, forming upper end of the opening di.n the'cani D,'the

breech-block is then in its ilowcst position, which is about horizontal,a'nd-jthe chamber is open and ready for anew cartridge. During thisrearward movement of the breech-block for opening the chamber, the lowerconvexed end, (1, of the cam D and also'the cam on the other side of theblock come in contact with the concaved rear faces of the lower ends ofthe limbs e e of the cartridge-extractor E,

thus forcing the upper ends of the limbs and IXO The first part of themovement of tractor is slow and powerful, and afterward rapid, so thatthe cartridge case or'shell shall be thrown quickly out of the chamber.In the movement of the breechblock and cam to the rear, or into thepositionshown in Fig. 2,

the arm d5 of the cam comes in contact with the head f of the firing-pinF and pushes the same to the rear until the projection f thereon comesbeyond'the upper end of the verticallyn ovablc slide I, by which it isheld until released by the trigger j and the intermediate devices. Withthe parts named in the positions just stated, the cartridge is placed inthe chamber, and, by turning the handle back to its original position,the breech-block is also moved back and closes saidchamher. During thismovement the pin'orstuda. remains in the then upper curved portion ofthe opening 01 of the cam 1) until the inclined walls'd of thecam-groove D in the breech are reached, when it is raised out of thatposition by izo said inclined walls and forced up into the then elevatedcurved portion of the opening d. In this position the breech-block-israised bodily up until its hands fit into the grooves or recesses in thebreech of the gun, and the cam, being drawn forward, brings theextension (P of its arm 11 close up to the rear surface of thebreech-block. The horizontal arm h of the rock-shaft H is then under andagainst the trip or finger j, which projects from the inner end of therock-shaft J, which is operated by the trigger j on its outer end andbeneath the handrestj. The parts being in this position, the gun isready for firing. The trigger j is then moved to .the rear and turns therock-shait J and its finger .3 downward. The latter also forces downwardthe horizontal arm h of the rock-shaft H, lowers the slide 1, andreleases the firing-pin, which is then thrown forward against the primerby the action of the V-shaped mainspring G, the front wing, g, of saidmainspring pressing against the front shoulders, f, on the side of thefiring-pin, and the rear wing, g", resting against the rear-shoulders,f, thereof. The

. firing-pin, after its release from the tension of the spring,continues forward by virtue of its weight and momentum, and, afterstriking the primer, is drawn back a short distance by the reactiveforce of the rear wing of the spring, which has been slightly compressedby the rear shoulders of the firing-pin in the forward movement of thelatter, thus bringing the point of the firing-pin inside ofthe face ofthe breech-block and away from the primer, so that no obstacle remainsto the downward movement of said breech-block-when opening the breechfor a new charge.

Prominent among the advantages of my invention is the arrangement of thecenter of the pin or stud a slightly forward of a vertical plane passingthrough the center of the axis B when the brcech-block is in its up orclosed position,whercby the breech-block is enabled to resist backwardand downward pressure upon its face from the exploded charge. Also,back-pressure is further resisted by the bands on of the breech-blockfitting in the grooves in the upper wall of the guu'breech, since toopen the block at all it must first be lowered out ofthe grooves. Also,any downward press ure-is resisted by the pin or stud (1 as any pressurethereon only acts to push the block forward and lock it tighter thanbefore. Also, as the right-angled extension d on the cam-' arm d? is notclose against the back of the block until the latter is securely lockedin position, should the firing-pin be accidentally released before saidblock is closed, the head 50 f on the firing-pin will come in contactwith said extension d on the cam-arm d and prerent the point of thefiring-pin from striking the primer, thus avoiding premature dischargeof the gun.

My breech-loading gun, with the parts constructed. arranged, andoperating as described,

is not only capable of being. rapidly operated or fired, but is simple,strong, and not liable .to get out of order.

It is obvious that minor changes can be made in the construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the nature on principleof my invention-as, for instance, the cam and its adjuncts, as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, may be duplicated on the opposite side of thebreech-block, if necessary or desired. Also, I may find it desirable touse a spring-catch on the handle oi the breechblock to prevent thebreech from being accidentally opened, and also for the purpose ofindicating by its clicking sound (at night or in the hurry of battle)that the closure of the chamber is complete.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new the following:

'1. In a gun in which the breech-block first moves downward in openingand then swings backward and downward, the combination, with thegun-breech provided with grooves in its upper wall, of the pivotedbreech'block A, provided on its upper surface with bands or projectionsa a, adapted to titin said grooves and hold said breech-block firmly inplace, and means for moving the breech-block into and out of saidgrooves, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the gun-breech, the breech-block A, having thestud or pin a", the cam D, having'the opening (I, with curved ends, inwhich said stud or pin is supported, and the axis B, which carries saidcam, passing through said breech-block and havingits center to the rearof the vertical plane passing through the center of said stud or pin awhen the breech-block is closed, whereby back -pressure upon the face ofthe block is resisted, substantially as described.

In a gun in which the breech-block first moves downward in opening andthen swings backward and downward, the combination. with the gun-breechhaving the cam-groove I) in its inner wall, of the breech-block A,having-the stud or pin a and the elongated opening a aud mechanism formoving saidbreechblock out ofan'd into operative position, consisting ofthe shaft or axis B, passing through said elongated opening, the cainD,rigidly attaehed to the axis and having the opening d, with curved ends,to receive the stud or pin a", and the handle 0, attached to said axis,for op erating the same, the cam, and the breechblock, substantially asdeseribed.

4. The combination of the brc'ech having the interior cam-gr0ove, D,provided with nearly vertical walls d* at its upper end,slightly-inclined and rearwardly-extendiug walls d below said verticalwalls, and curved walls (1 for the rest of its length, the breechblockA, having thestud or pin a. and the elongated openings, the shaft oraxis B, passing through said opening, the cam D, having the opening d,with curved ends, to receive the pin a, and the handle 0, attachedtosaid axis, for operating the same and the cam and breech-block,substantially as described. I

5. In a gun in which the breech-block in backward anddownward. thecombination of the gun-breech, thebreech-block, thecartridgeextractorE,consisting of the vertical limbs e 6, having the right angledextensions d et their 'lxpper ends,'t-he.lower ends ofi said limbseprojecting slightly rearward and being concaved,

the pivotal bolts e 6, listed in'the inner walls of the'breech chamberforward of the pivot'of the operating-lever, the axis'B, having a cam oneach side of the breech-block for operating the extractor, said camshaving curved ends, and means for operating said axis "and cams,substantially as described.- j

6. In a gun in which the breecn block in opening first moves downwardand then swings backward and downward, the combination of the breech,the breech-block having the pin or stud, the shaft or axis havingthe-handle, the cam attached thereto, and-having the-openingwith'curvedends to engage. the pin onthe breech-block. and thevrearw,ardly-extend-ing arm provided with the right-angled extension,and the firing-pin having a headagainst which said extension of thecam-arm abuts for retracting the firing-pin, substantially as de-.scribed. r

7. The combination of the breech-block A, the mainspring G, thefirimg'pin F, having shoulders for the front andrear wings of saidspringand a projection on it's underside, and

mechanism for retracting said firing-pin, with the short rock-shaft H,the vertically-movable slide I,- secured to said, rock-shaft, anddevices for moving said shaft, loweringthe slide, and

releasing the firing pin,-substantialiy as described. v

' 8. The combination of the breech-block, the firing-pin movabletherein, devices for retracting the latter, and the vertical slide forholdmg the same when retracted,- with the springcontrolled shortrock-shaft provided withthe horizontal and'vertical arms and a trip orfinger for depressing the horizontal arm 'on said neck-shaft, and meansfor releasing the slide from the firingpin, substantially as described.

'9. Thecombinationof the breech-block, the firing-pin, devices forretracting the latter, and the vertical slide for holding the same whenretracted, with the spring-controlled short rock-shaft,"to which saidslide is secured, provided with horizontal and vertical arms, therock-shaft arranged in aline to the rear of said short rock-shaft, andprovided-with a horizonf tal finger'at its inner end and with a triggerat its outer end, and the as described. l

1o." Thefcom'bination urthe e-recon," me breech-block, the firing-pin,the cam provided v with the "rearwardly-extending arm having anextension for retracting saidpin, and means for operating the cam, withthe vertical slidefor holdingsaid-pin' when retracted, thespringcontrolled short rock-shaft, to which said slide is secured,provided with horizontal and vertical arms, and means for depressing-thehorizontal arm of said rock-shaft, and thus releasing the slide from thefiring-pin, substantially as described. i I

11. The combination of the breech, .tne

breech-block, the firing-pin, the cam providedhan'd rest, substantiallywith a rearwardly-extending arm having an extension for retracting saidpin, and means for operating the cam, with the vertical slide forholding said pin when retracted, the springcontrolled short rock-shaft,to which said slide is secured, provided with the horizontal andvertical arms, the rock-shaft arranged in a line to therear of the shortone, and provided with a horizontal finger at its inner end and with atrigger at its outer end, and the hand-rest, substantially as described.v

12. The combination of the breechblock,

grooves communicating therewi-t-h, the f ringpin having front and rearshoulders projecting into said grooves, a suitably-supported V- Lformedwith-the firin'g-pin Opening and the shaped mainspring having itsforward wing resting against said front shoulders and its rear wingagainst said rear shoulders, and also hav ing bearing against a fixedpart of the breech block, and devices for retracting and releas ing saidfiring-pin, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the breechblocli having a firing-pin openingand the IOO grooves communicating therewith, of the fir- L. W. HARRIS,E. L. WHITE.

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